part of
realizes
physical examination
dental exam
dental health care provider role
oral evaluation
This class was created in order to associate oral evaluations with dental findings that came about as the result of a dental exam. The data source I am working with has records that show multiple oral evalutions were performed on the same day. For example, the data source may have records that show a periodic oral evaluation, comprehensive oral evaluation, and comprehensive periodontal evaluation are performed on the same day. However, the finding(s) for these evaluations is/are stored in a separate table with only the patient id and date to associate the finding with the exam. There is no information to link the finding to a particular evaluation.
As a work around (i.e., hack!), I've made oral evaluations be part of the dental examination. There is a case to be made that oral evaluations should be a subclass of dental exam, but, such a representation, would make representing the finding information (associated with a particular oral evaluation) difficult.
A visual and tactile examination in which the clinician evaluates the status of the patient's oral cavity and related areas. An oral evaluation is performed as part of a dental exam. The examination may also include the results of tests, such as radiographs, pulp vitality, etc.
Person: Bill Duncan
Titus Schleyer 1/14/2014: updated definition
Also, regarding Bill's comment on the fact that multiple examinations can occur on the same day (e.g. periodic oral evaluation, comprehensive oral evaluation and comprehensive periodontal evaluation): From a billing and clinical perspective, these are separate. For instance, a comprehensive oral evaluation has a larger scope than a periodic oral evaluation, while a comprehensive periodontal evaluation is focused primarily on gums and supporting tissues.